Volume 5, Chapter 17 – Swordsmanship Instruction?

Leaving the room, Yisi walked along the corridor, admiring the castle. Just as before, the servants passing by would stop and bow to her. Having grown somewhat accustomed to it, Yisi resisted the subconscious urge to bow back and arrived at a relatively spacious courtyard.

Unlike the other courtyards, this one, in addition to its well-manicured flowers and plants, had a squad of armored soldiers standing in the center. Unlike the patrolling soldiers, these soldiers’ shoulders heaved up and down with their heavy breathing, and they looked exceptionally ragged as they constantly wiped away sweat. In addition, Boris’s shouts could be heard from the courtyard.

“Use your full strength! What’s wrong with you today? Your speed and power have never been this slow!”

Are they training?

Yisi stopped to watch. From the moment she had arrived in this world, she had realized that the close-combat techniques from games were not applicable in the real world. Although she was now powerful enough that she didn’t need skill to make up for any gap, no one would refuse an extra ace up their sleeve.

Moving to a corner where her view wouldn’t be blocked by the soldiers, Yisi stood about twenty meters from the center of the courtyard and observed the soldiers’ training.

“A real enemy will not give up their attack just because you retreat! Show the spirit of the Royal Guard and attack!”

Boris’s voice was full of sternness. The soldier he was fighting responded, panting heavily.

“…Yes, sir!”

With a standard overhead swing, the soldier raised his wooden sword with both hands, took a step forward, and chopped down at Boris’s head. Judging by the movements of the soldiers and adventurers Yisi had seen before, this Royal Guard was quite a skilled fighter. In terms of spirit alone, among the people Yisi had met, only Clementine could compare with him.

Thwack.

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The originally powerful and heavy blow was easily blocked by Boris with his wooden sword. The reactive force from the collision sent the soldier staggering back several steps. He finally lost his balance and sat down hard on the ground, the wooden sword flying from his grasp.

“Too slow! Do you expect to protect Her Majesty the Queen with an attack like that?! Stand up and continue!”

Does he have to continue? Yisi’s mouth fell slightly open. The defeated soldier’s forehead was beaded with sweat, and his face was red from the intense exercise. Even though it was only early autumn, the steam rising from the soldier’s head was already clearly visible.

But the soldier got up from the ground without a single complaint, picked up his wooden sword, and continued a new round of battle with Boris.

Less than a minute later, he was knocked down by Boris again.

“No wonder the soldiers standing on the side are all panting like that. After this level of training, it would be strange if they weren’t.”

Conversely, to be able to single-handedly train an entire squad of soldiers to the point of exhaustion, Boris definitely had the strength befitting his title as Captain of the Royal Guard. After knocking down a soldier, Boris would always point out the errors in their movements, such as their actions being too straightforward or their offensive resolve not being firm enough.

He’s Level 52… I remember he was Level 51 the last time we met.

While listening to Boris impart close-combat techniques, Yisi used her hand as a weapon, mimicking the motion of swinging a sword. It was at this moment that a male voice she had never heard before came from behind her.

“If it isn’t Lady Yisi, who has just become a Duchess. Secretly watching the soldiers train is not in keeping with the conduct of a noble. However, you were introduced by the eldest daughter of the Pescia family, so it’s excusable that you don’t understand noble etiquette. You are from the border countryside, after all.”

The words were exceptionally harsh. Yisi frowned and turned around.

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It was a young, pureblood noble dressed in finery. Yisi had seen this person before at the noble council. At the time, he had been standing in the corner of the room, just like her. According to Refina’s introduction, his father was in charge of the eastern granary transport.

Seeing Yisi ignore him, the young man grew even more displeased.

“Even if you have the Queen’s recognition, you are ultimately a nouveau riche noble with no territory, who can only rely on the salary issued by the royal family. Please allow me to admonish you before you officially become a Duchess: do not take the position of Duchess as too much of an honor.”

Another noble lackey followed close behind.

“I hear the Pescia clan enjoys getting into fights and killing. It seems this country bumpkin who is peeping at Lord Boris’s training is no exception. Perhaps she’s trying to steal Lord Boris’s exquisite martial arts. A country noble is a country noble. Even if she has gained Her Majesty the Queen’s favor, she cannot change her despicable nature.”

It seemed they were jealous of her obtaining the title of Duchess and had come specifically to mock her. In their eyes, she, a non-hereditary Duchess who was originally a commoner, was just like a nouveau riche who had gotten a little lucky.

Haggling with these children was truly unbecoming of a mentally mature adult. Not wanting to waste her breath on these nobles, Yisi prepared to leave, but the young noble pushed his luck.

“She hasn’t even been to the Noble Academy. She probably can’t even read the Hyurent language. Hahaha.”

Troublesome.

Just as Yisi was wondering how to deal with these dandy nobles, Boris appeared in front of her and the young men.

“What’s going on?”

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Seeing Boris’s chiseled and extremely dignified face, the dandy nobles changed their mocking tone from a moment ago.

“We were instructing Her Grace, the Duchess, on noble etiquette. Her Grace is interested in your martial arts, Lord Boris, and has been secretly learning on the side. It wouldn’t be a problem if it were just a normal day, but if she were to be seen by the envoys of the surrounding small nations, it would inevitably damage the reputation of our Blood Clan of Hyurent.”

Subtly altering his wording, the young noble glanced at Yisi with the air of a victor. All the nobles who had been to the Royal Castle knew that Boris was a just man who valued principles. As long as Boris believed the young noble’s words, even if Yisi was a Duchess, Boris would admonish her from his own position.

But the young nobles did not see the expression they were expecting on Boris’s face. On the contrary, the muscles on Boris’s face twitched uncontrollably a few times, his expression became exceptionally ugly, and his thick eyebrows knitted together tightly.

“…You say that Lady Yisi was learning my martial arts?”

“Precisely. We saw it with our own eyes.”

Not noticing the change in atmosphere, the young nobles still puffed out their chests, looking righteous and confident.

“What a joke. Are you out of your—”

Just as Boris was about to reprimand the young nobles, Yisi took the opportunity to step forward.

“One moment, Lord Boris.”

“You may call me Boris directly, Lady Yisi. Your status and strength do not require you to use an honorific like ‘Lord’ to address me.”

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Boris bowed his head, correcting Yisi’s honorific, but the young nobles’ mouths dropped open wide enough to fit an apple.

“Lord Boris, you say her strength convinces you? How is that possible!?”

“Hmph. In Lady Yisi’s hands, I couldn’t even last one—”

Boris was the captain of the Royal Guard. If a rumor spread that he was defeated in a single move, it would surely cause people to doubt his strength and shake his position. Yisi quickly cut him off.

“I am indeed inferior to Boris in combat techniques. Just now, as they said, I was observing Boris’s martial arts. If you don’t mind, Boris, may I ask for your instruction in martial arts?”

“But…”

Boris’s hesitation made the young nobles dissatisfied.

“Lord Boris, now is the time to show this countr—… to show Her Grace, the Duchess, your martial arts. If you can let Her Grace witness your strength, she will be more at ease in the future letting you guard the Royal Castle.”

Boris’s mouth twitched. Due to the nobles’ words and Yisi’s request, he had no way out and could only agree through gritted teeth.

“…I hope that Lady Yisi can show me the pinnacle of martial arts.”

Boris handed the wooden sword to Yisi.